Back to Search Start Over

The role of genetics in estrogen responses: a critical piece of an intricate puzzle

The role of genetics in estrogen responses: a critical piece of an intricate puzzle

Authors :
Emma H. Wall
Kenneth S. Korach
Chin-Yo Lin
Sylvia C. Hewitt
Cory Teuscher
Laure K. Case
Source :
The FASEB Journal. 28:5042-5054
Publication Year :
2014
Publisher :
Wiley, 2014.

Abstract

The estrogens are female sex hormones that are involved in a variety of physiological processes, including reproductive development and function, wound healing, and bone growth. They are mainly known for their roles in reproductive tissues—specifically, 17β-estradiol (E2), the primary estrogen, which is secreted by the ovaries and induces cellular proliferation and growth of the uterus and mammary glands. In addition to the role of estrogens in promoting tissue growth and development during normal physiological states, they have a well-established role in determining susceptibility to disease, particularly cancer, in reproductive tissues. The responsiveness of various tissues to estrogen is genetically controlled, with marked quantitative variation observed across multiple species, including humans. This variation presents both researchers and clinicians with a veritable physiological puzzle, the pieces of which—many of them unknown—are complex and difficult to fit together. Although genetics is known to play a major role in determining sensitivity to estrogens, there are other factors, including parent of origin and the maternal environment, that are intimately linked to heritable phenotypes but do not represent genotype, per se. The objectives of this review article were to summarize the current knowledge of the role of genotype, and uterine and neonatal environments, in phenotypic variation in the response to estrogens; to discuss recent findings and the potential mechanisms involved; and to highlight exciting research opportunities for the future.—Wall, E. H., Hewitt, S. C., Case, L. K, Lin, C.-Y., Korach, K. S., Teuscher, C. The role of genetics in estrogen responses: a critical piece of an intricate puzzle.

Details

ISSN :
15306860 and 08926638
Volume :
28
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
The FASEB Journal
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....f69348a25d81547c5d9910cd043fca57
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.14-260307